OK….I wasn’t planning on writing this, but realized I am fairly organized with my storm day meal prep. (We are currently under a Blizzard Warning) I did a quick grocery store run this morning, home before 9:30am, and started cooking. I live in a very power deficient area. We lose power. A lot. A memory of losing power for 3 days, with two small infants…left enough of an impression that I am now pretty organized when there is any sort of storm warning.
Storm Day Meal Prep
So here’s what I did….I came home and took about 5 minutes and threw together a pot of Cheesy Chili Soup. This is my standard “Storm Soup”. The ingredients are mostly pantry staples, so you should be able to throw this together anytime. Once it’s cooked, I leave it on the stove, and if need be I can heat it up on the burner on my barbecue (on my porch) or even on a small pot on the top of my wood stove. Something warm to eat, if your house is cold…makes a huge difference to your comfort level. Storm Soup….check!
This easy, cheesy chili-style soup combines freshly chopped vegetables with canned tomatoes and the beans of your choice for a tasty dish.
I also will usually make a batch of muffins, make some hard boiled eggs and make sure we have lots of fruit and veggies for snacking or to make into a lunch if the power is out. These Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins are always popular.
I also put a pack of boneless, skinless chicken breasts in my slow cooker. Sprinkle a package of taco seasoning over the top and a jar of salsa, and am cooking on high for 4-5 hours. (or on low for 8, but if you are worried about power…go for High) This is a very basic Salsa Chicken recipe. Again, takes about 5 minutes to throw together, but it will stay warm all afternoon in the slow cooker. When you are ready, take a couple forks and shred the chicken. We will have it on Nacho chips with some sour cream and cheese. Or throw it in a wrap, or a bun. Another meal…check! This will taste so good when those blizzard winds are howling, or when you come in from another round of snow clearing. Trust me on this.
Another good idea is to grab a couple of cans of tuna and some rolls for some tuna burgers or sandwiches. Make sure you have a manual can opener if losing power is a possibility. Or get that electric opener and open them all, mix together with mayo and celery and place in a bowl in the fridge. Ready for assembly anytime. Another meal…check!
My meal plan pic is fairly basic…but we want our Storm Food to be fun! Sitting in the dark by the fire…a cheese plate with some crackers, veggies and nuts… maybe with a refreshing beverage… will lift everyone’s spirits.
Of course there’s also storm chips. Yes…you need Storm Chips. We do anyway. I used to call them Storm Snacks….but thanks to Stephanie Domet, our entire province will be forever known for Storm Chips, which I don’t mind one bit. The only way to get through some of our Nova Scotia winters…have a plan…and have fun. As Frankie says, “Be Prepared!”
We also have a whole post with a checklist on Storm Prep, outside of the food and meals. You can also check out a Facebook Live video I did showing how I was preparing for an impending storm.
Do you do any storm prep? Make any meals ahead or just hope Tim Hortons stays open and you can make it out if need be? 😉 Leave a comment and let us know!
